Volume 4 Chapter 18 [Encounter During Treasure Hunt]

Volume 4 Chapter 18 [Encounter During Treasure Hunt]
Wang Rui made an agreement with everyone to meet back at the original location before sunset that day. If they encountered any trouble that they couldn't solve, they would release a warning symbol.
A warning symbol is one of the most widely used props in the world of cultivation. It doesn't even require the input of spiritual power—just tearing it with your hands will suffice. In the instant it is torn, the preset spiritual power technique on the talisman will be activated, emitting a loud sound that can be heard within ten li (approx. 5 km), and then transforming into a giant red light arrow to indicate to others for rescue or support. It will last for 15 minutes.
Even after completely disappearing, an invisible powder will remain in the original place, and cultivators can continue to track the corresponding target by tracing this powder. However, the higher the cultivator's cultivation level, the weaker the powder's effect and the more difficult it is to track.
After dispersing, Wang Rui carried his sword box, unfolded the Green Tourmaline Wings, and took out the compass in his hand. At this time, under the induction, the pointer kept turning and finally indicated three directions, indicating that there were at least three locations that matched the cave to be explored this time.
According to intelligence, the owner of this cave is an ancient cultivator, who goes by the name "Fierce Sun True Lord". It sounds like a very imposing title, but in reality, he is not well-known and completely self-proclaimed. The information indicates that he is mainly skilled in alchemy and is not a practitioner of demonic or evil cultivation, so his cave should be relatively safe.
Wang Rui used his spiritual power to fix the pointer at a certain angle, and then spread his wings and flew in that direction. Soon, he entered the target range of ten miles, and the numbers on the compass began to spin, getting smaller and smaller.
When the number was fixed at zero one, Wang Rui landed on the ground, retracted the Qingliu wings, and took out the map from the storage bag, comparing the terrain and reference objects in front of him.
"It seems like it's not..." Wang Rui noticed that the scenery here was quite different from the picture and text description on the blueprint. Although the blueprint only captured a small part, he could still make a rough assessment.
He voluntarily gave up excavation and instead freed his pointer, then spread his wings to fly to another direction.
Wang Rui is confident in his judgement and also decisive, he will not dig recklessly just because of greed, as people who are curious to their own death abound in this world.
"There may be treasure below, but there may also be traps and ambushes. To let it go is the biggest regret, but if danger is encountered, there will be absolute regret." Wang Rui comforted himself in his heart.
Returning to the target area in the second direction again, this time the flight took longer. The scorching temperature and dryness forced him to descend to the ground to replenish his water after flying for an hour. After taking a rest, he continued on his way.
When setting off, it was around dawn during the hour of Mao. By the time they reached the second location, it was already one quarter past noon. Continuing to search according to the numerical scale on the compass, they approached their target and stopped once again.
Take out the blueprint and check the surrounding environment. This time, there is a 70% similarity. Wang Rui restrains his excitement and keeps comparing. He didn't find any big differences. Could it be that he really found the cave?
He searched around for possible entrances, but there were none. The ground was mostly cracked, emitting scorching heat. In some spots, there was even magma bubbling beneath the surface, tinted with shades of red and yellow.
"Is there a barrier here?" Wang Rui extended his divine sense to detect any possible barriers or seals in the surroundings.
About half an hour later, it seemed that there was a hint of barrier energy about thirty meters to his right and behind.
He carried the sword box and walked towards the location where the boundary power was dispersed, feeling more and more clearly that there was indeed a seal here.
Stretching out his finger, he cast a spiritual light and touched the seal. In an instant, he sensed a hot power, causing him to stir in his heart.
However, in just a moment, he felt the danger and immediately broke the connection of his spiritual power, and quickly retreated.
A pillar of fire shot out, as thick as a human arm. Wang Rui lowered his head and dodged it.
A pillar of fire shot straight towards a small hill fifty meters behind him, melting it as if it were made of paper.
The pillar of fire quickly retracted back into the barrier and the barrier closed, returning to its previous state.
Wang Rui wiped the cold sweat off his forehead, secretly thinking to himself that it was a close call. If he had continued to use his spiritual power to communicate with the sealing barrier just now, the power of the fire pillar would have been even stronger and he would have had a hard time reacting to it.
"It's really full of traps everywhere. It's no wonder that many cultivators are injured or killed when exploring the secret realm. It's easy to make mistakes like just now." Wang Rui looked back in fear at the location of the barrier, and then manipulated the pointer to continue to the next location.
Unfortunately, the next location was still not the cave as mentioned in the intelligence, but a real trap this time.
As Wang Rui entered the area within a hundred meters of that location, a huge fire-element toad was sleeping below. It extended its tongue like a spear and stabbed towards Wang Rui, who narrowly escaped with the help of lightning gravity.
This toad is not easy to deal with, approaching the peak of foundation building. Wang Rui suspects that any random monster here may have such strength.
He fought with this toad for a while, without distinguishing the winner, and the toad seemed unwilling to leave its sleeping place, so it stopped chasing after Wang Rui left its territory.
The sky was getting dark, and Wang Rui was no longer lingering, rushing back to the meeting point.
Back at the temporary camp, fortunately, all five people returned safely, but everyone exchanged their experiences of the day, all of which were thrilling. Yuan Chenggang and Liu Xianglan both said that they almost tore apart the warning symbols.
Today's encounter also made everyone understand that the Samsung mission is not something that can be completed lightly, and requires utmost attention.
The first day's encounter left everyone somewhat discouraged, but Wang Rui encouraged them by saying, "Don't worry, we should have expected such encounters. Secret caves and other such places are full of danger. Not finding the cave on the first day is not a big deal. As long as we persist, we will definitely succeed."
With Wang Rui's encouragement, the other four people felt better and gradually adjusted their mindset.
Over the next half month, the five of them continued to search for the entrance to the cave. During this period, they also encountered difficult dangers. Through warning symbols, the five worked together to clear obstacles and ensured that they could continue exploring the Blaze Meteorite Land.
On the twentieth day, a volcano in the Blaze Fallen Land began to erupt, causing the temperature around it to rise to frightening levels. Everyone was planning to evacuate, but Chen Qi accidentally discovered an area near the volcanic eruption where the temperature had not increased significantly, indicating that there must be something there.